To guard against unmanned aerial vehicles, authorities emphasize expanding high-performance air defense capabilities, including laser weapon systems. Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as vice president of the Russian Federation Council, outlined this approach during a visit to the Central Federal District. The remarks reflect a government priority to harden the nation’s shield against increasingly capable drone threats and to integrate new technologies into existing defense networks. Observers note that the discussion fits into a broader strategy aimed at safeguarding public safety, protecting critical infrastructure, and maintaining stable airspace for civilian and emergency operations. The emphasis on expanding defenses signals a readiness to adapt to evolving threats posed by small, fast moving aircraft that can complicate security tasks at large facilities and event venues across the region, demanding rapid investment and strategic deployment of next generation systems.
In his remarks he said the expansion should cover more than traditional systems. It should include high efficiency air defense systems and complexes able to utilize new physical principles to intercept or defeat aerial intrusions at longer ranges and with greater precision.
Medvedev pointed to laser weapons designed to defeat small aerial targets. He argued that such directed-energy solutions could offer rapid response times, smaller logistic footprints, and scalable deployment across diverse environments, from manufacturing campuses to transport hubs.
In February, developers introduced an AI-driven system to identify and suppress drone activity around business facilities. Known as the Dome project, the platform integrates sensing and interference modules to protect critical economic sites. The configuration reportedly includes the Echo Electronic Intelligence Station and the TRile Radio Electronic Suppression Station.
At the end of January, Dmitry Grazyakin, head of the Complex for Unmanned Decisions Center at the Central Design Office, announced that work had begun to define objectives under the FPV Wizards program. The effort targets environmental management and airspace protection around civilian sites across Russia, aiming to minimize disruptions from small unmanned aircraft. The project leadership notes that lessons learned from private security operations inform the approach, with a goal to deter unauthorized drone activity and preserve uninterrupted operations in urban and industrial areas.
Earlier steps in Russia included the creation of a security system named Friday to guard sensitive facilities from drone incursions.